Seven days later.
A spaceship bearing a maple leaf emblem tore through the atmosphere and landed directly at a private docking field on Qiu Long Star.
This sudden landing left the crowds queued high above the spaceport, waiting for clearance to enter, utterly astonished.
Inside a ten-thousand-meter-long cargo starship.
Morrison, who had been leisurely admiring Qiu Long Star's scenery with fine wine in one hand and a beautiful maid in the other, suddenly widened his eyes.
"Who is that? Why does his ship get to fly straight into Qiu Long Star?"
As a prince of the Kalo Civilization, an elementary civilization empire, Morrison was responsible for escorting a shipment of energy supplies to Qiu Long Star for sale. The Kalo Empire had a partner shop on Qiu Long Star, so the goods could be handed over upon arrival. It should have been an easy assignment.
Along the way, his teacher had solemnly taught him some of Qiu Long Star's rules and common knowledge. Yet now, before their starship had even landed, someone who disregarded those rules had appeared before his eyes.
"The owner of that ship... is probably no ordinary person." Behind him, an old man with a graying beard exclaimed in wonder, "Young Master Morrison, to encounter such a powerful figure on your first visit to Qiu Long Star-you truly are fortunate."
"Could it be a Universe Level expert? Someone on the same level as our empire's grand general?" Prince Morrison asked curiously.
The old man slowly shook his head. "Qiu Long Star is far more prosperous than our imperial capital, and its master is a powerful Domain Lord. How would an ordinary Universe Level expert dare act so brazenly here?"
"Then..." Morrison set down his wineglass, looking startled and uncertain. "If he isn't Universe Level, could he be a Domain Lord?"
After all, their entire Kalo Empire had only one Domain Lord: the reigning emperor.
"Hard to say." The old man's gaze remained fixed on the spaceship. "But... young master, did you notice the maple leaf emblem on that ship? It is the Maple Leaf Empire's unique insignia. Although this ship is custom-made, it is at least C6 grade... it is very likely that legendary figure from the Maple Leaf Empire."
"You mean... that legendary Giant Axe Warrior?" Prince Morrison's eyes went wide in disbelief.
"Precisely! Rumor has it that his strength rivals a Domain Lord's, and that he has a close relationship with Qiu Long Star's master. If it really is him, his disregard for the rules makes sense," the old man said with certainty.
Morrison was both surprised and delighted. "To think I would have the good fortune to glimpse such a legendary expert. Unfortunately, even as an imperial prince, I fear I would scarcely have a chance to approach someone like him."
On one side of the spaceship, the hatch slid open soundlessly.
A group of staff dressed in gray Qiu Long Star uniforms had already lined up to await his arrival. Their leader was none other than a Star Level Nine spirit reader.
Once Lu Qingshan stepped down from the ship, everyone bowed in perfect unison. "Greetings, sir!"
"No need for formalities. Go about your business." Lu Qingshan waved casually. Qiu Long Star was the home of his wife Catherine's family. He had visited many times and was already quite familiar with it.
After dismissing everyone, Lu Qingshan led his disciple Lei Ming toward the magnificent city ahead at a leisurely pace.
On his first visit to Qiu Long Star, Lei Ming looked around curiously. Maple Leaf Star, which he had previously considered the most prosperous place of all, instantly paled beside the sight before him.
"Qiu Long Star holds a special position. Its commerce is far more prosperous than that of many elementary Universe Countries' imperial capitals," Lu Qingshan explained briefly before asking, "Do you have an account with the Universe Galaxy Bank?"
"A bank account?" Lei Ming scratched his head. "I only have accounts with the Horn Thunder Bank and the Maple Leaf First Bank."
Naturally, he had heard of the Universe Galaxy Bank. There was even a branch on Maple Leaf Star, but its threshold for opening an account was absurdly high: one hundred million Black Dragon Coins.
He had only been his teacher's disciple for three years. He had kept to his duties and declined every gift; even some of his savings had come from gifts received during his last visit home.
Of course, he was not truly poor. The three Force Weapons his teacher had bestowed upon him alone were worth no less than one hundred billion Black Dragon Coins. Still, even with ten times the courage, he would never dare sell treasures his teacher had only just given him.
Lu Qingshan chuckled. "Give me your Maple Leaf Bank account number. I'll transfer ten billion Black Dragon Coins first. Go open an account with the Galaxy Bank later. Once you leave the Maple Leaf Empire, a Maple Leaf Bank account won't be nearly as useful."
"Teacher, ten billion Black Dragon Coins... that's too much! With that much money, I wouldn't even know how to spend it." Lei Ming was somewhat overwhelmed.
"You blockhead! Do you need someone to teach you how to spend money?" Lu Qingshan scolded with a laugh. "Besides, that money isn't all for you. Do you expect me, your teacher, to pay out of my own pocket for all our food and drink along the way?"
Only then did Lei Ming understand. "Your student understands!"
Lu Qingshan had his intelligent assistant Nasus complete the transfer. Soon, the two arrived beneath the city wall.
An enormous silver dragon sculpture coiled around the towering wall, so lifelike that it seemed ready to soar into the air at any moment.
Inside the city, the bustle was even greater. Crowds surged along the streets, their appearances varied: beast ears, catgirls, three eyes, even lizard-like beastmen... compared with them, the little pointed horn atop Lei Ming's head actually seemed ordinary.
As Lei Ming was looking around, a cat-eared girl suddenly cast him a flirtatious glance. His face instantly flushed scarlet, and he hurriedly lowered his head, no longer daring to let his eyes wander.
"Qiu Long Star is very safe. With your strength, there's no need to worry. A Galaxy Bank branch is just a short way ahead. Go open an account yourself, then look around the city as you please. I'll contact you before we leave." Lu Qingshan still had important business to attend to, so he sent Lei Ming off on his own. This trip was also meant to give him experience; perhaps the results would be better without his teacher beside him.
Lei Ming nodded in acknowledgment and strode toward the Galaxy Bank.
Lu Qingshan's figure flickered slightly, and the next moment, he appeared at the entrance to a shop called the Rare Treasure Shop.
"Welcome to the Rare Treasure Shop." A beautiful young shop assistant in uniform, whose strength was only at the Planetary Level, bowed respectfully, then led him inside. "What might you need, sir? Our shop carries a full range of goods..."
"Call your boss over. What I want to trade is beyond your authority," Lu Qingshan interrupted gently.
"Yes! Please wait a moment, sir." Not daring to show the slightest neglect, the assistant hurried up to the second floor. Soon, a slightly plump old man rushed downstairs.
His gaze swept over Lu Qingshan. First startled, he immediately adopted an expression of profound deference and hurried forward. "I did not know you would grace us with your presence, Mr. Lu. Forgive me for failing to welcome you at the door!"
Seeing her boss act so humbly, the beautiful shop assistant widened her eyes in shock. Her gaze toward Lu Qingshan instantly filled with fervor and curiosity.
Her boss was a renowned figure on Qiu Long Star. Just who was this customer?
Lu Qingshan waved to indicate it was fine. The Rare Treasure Shop had been established here for many years; it was hardly surprising that he recognized him.
"I'm here to sell a suit of Origin Force armor," he said, getting straight to the point.
Despite having just given his disciple the enormous sum of ten billion, Lu Qingshan himself was thoroughly impoverished.
His previous breakthrough had nearly exhausted his Universe Coins and Ganwu Coins, leaving only some Black Dragon Coins and Maple Leaf Coins with little purchasing power. One of his reasons for coming to Qiu Long Star was to repay an old debt, so he could only sell a piece of equipment.
"Mr. Lu, please follow me to the meeting room so we can discuss the details." The old man's eyes lit up. He hurriedly led the way, inviting Lu Qingshan into an elegant reception room on the second floor and personally serving him fragrant tea.
"What might you be planning to sell, Mr. Lu?" the old man asked eagerly.
Lu Qingshan turned his hand over, and a suit of armor appeared on the table, arcs of electricity flowing across it as it radiated an extraordinary aura.
"This is...!" Seeing the armor clearly, the old man sucked in a breath. "Top-grade fourth-tier Thunderlight Armor!"
Armor was already far more valuable than weapons of the same tier. The preciousness of a top-grade fourth-tier suit of armor was difficult to measure. The old man's aged fingers trembled as he carefully stroked its surface, as though touching a rare treasure.
"Mr. Lu, for this armor... I offer four hundred and ninety trillion Ganwu Coins!" The old man named an astronomical price. The Rare Treasure Shop had numerous branches. If he had relied solely on the Qiu Long Star shop, his cash flow would never have been enough to acquire this treasure.
"I want Universe Coins," Lu Qingshan said evenly.
He needed to repay a debt, so naturally, he had to receive Universe Coins. He could hardly borrow Universe Coins and repay them with Ganwu Coins.
The old man considered briefly. "If paying in Universe Coins... our humble shop can offer one hundred and twenty billion Universe Coins."
At the official exchange rate, this price was slightly low. But in large transactions, exchanging Universe Coins for Ganwu Coins was easy, while the reverse was more difficult. This offer was already quite fair.
After a moment's thought, Lu Qingshan nodded. "One hundred and twenty billion Universe Coins, plus another five trillion Ganwu Coins."
"Deal!" The old man agreed immediately, without hesitation.
(End of chapter)